S. Carroll picking up momentum

Cavaliers overpowering in 66-6 rout of T. Johnson

Wrestling

South Carroll coach Peter Olson told his wrestlers to work on their technique yesterday in a dual meet at home against Thomas Johnson (3-5). It turned out he got more than he bargained for.

The host and fifth-ranked Cavaliers (7-1) recorded pins in eight of 13 matches, including four of the first five, to defeat the Patriots, 66-6, in a Central Maryland Conference match.

"I told them to work on their moves tonight," said Olson. "We wrestled a struggling program, but overall I was pleased with the effort.

The win gives the Cavaliers momentum going into Saturday's match with Frederick County champion Urbana.

Thomas Johnson's only points came when 189-pounder Joe Eshmont pinned the Cavaliers' Eric Waugh. Other than that, it was all South Carroll.

"We were trying to work on team goals as well as individual ones," said South Carroll's Dan Patterson, who pinned Chris Fries in their 130-pound match.

Patterson says this team has the potential to be as good as last year's powerhouse at South Carroll.

"I don't know whether we're better, but I think we could be just as good," said Patterson, who finished third in the states last year at 112. "I was a little surprised we lost [by 12 to Atholton] early in the season, but I think we've improved since then."

Olson agrees, but says the Cavaliers have to keep improving.

"We are in the toughest region in the state with Franklin and River Hill. We can't look past anyone right now," Olson said.

Olson says he has been pleasantly surprised by several wrestlers early in the year, most notably 103-pound freshman Everett Thrift, who pinned Josh Collett in 29 seconds.

"We have some great wrestlers on the team, but some of the younger wrestlers have really stepped up and improved," said Olson. "That's important, because we'll need them later in the season."

Ron Lewis followed Thrift's pin with a pin of his own, handling Terrance Myers at 112 pounds. Kellen Weber followed with a first-period pin over David Wells at 125.

The Cavaliers also got pins from Josh Wampler at 135, over Ryan King; Bryan Hampler at 145, over Joe Baldi; Tim Curtis at 160, over Patrick O'Toole; and Chris Currence at 171, over Jason Kepple.

No. 6 River Hill 37, No. 10 Atholton 22: The Hawks (6-0 overall, 3-0 league) won two of the first three matches by close decisions and went on to victory over their Howard County rival.

Jason Fawcett's 7-3 decision over Mark Carbone at 171 clinched the win for River Hill.